Latest news with #AaronWhitecotton
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Sign UFL Star As Fans Question 'Commitment'
Cowboys Sign UFL Star As Fans Question 'Commitment' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys are hoping to continue their luck in signing players out of the UFL. ... but Cowboys Nation seems skeptical about the level of "commitment'' here. Advertisement And no, we're not talking about the commitment from the newcomer. Yes, the Cowboys signed defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey after an All-UFL season with the Birmingham Stallions this spring. After a standout college career at Oklahoma, Winfrey was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was waived after one year with the Browns before being picked up by the New York Jets the following season. He spent much of his one-year contract in 2023 on the injured reserve or practice squad before becoming a free agent and testing out his skills in the UFL. The 6-3, 290-pounder proved his pre-draft pedigree by earning all-league honors in the spring after joining the Stallions in October of last year. Advertisement He comes to the Cowboys with previous ties to the coaching staff. During his time on the Jets' practice squad, he worked with Dallas' new defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton. He also reunites with former New York teammate and fellow defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, who signed with the Cowboys earlier this offseason. And he got some positive attention this week when he posted video of his early arrival to get to work at The Star, charming many in the fan base. But those same fans in many cases remain skeptical of the move ... and again, that's not the fault of Winfrey. The Cowboys struggled stopping the run last season ... as it seems they do most every season. Advertisement They need former first-rounder Mazi Smith to fix that. But in terms of capital, that's really the only time in recent years Dallas has invested in run-stopping at nose guard/1-tech. Signing Winfrey continues the team's efforts to enhance the interior defensive line as Dallas drafted two tackles in Jay Toia and Tommy Akingbesote ... but those are seventh-round picks. That's not an "investment''; it's a hope and a prayer. Winfrey will head to training camp with a shot at earning his place on the Cowboys 53-man roster and adding depth to the trenches. His connections to the staff should bode well for his causes, but he still must prove that he deserves the chance to play in the NFL. Advertisement For the Cowboys, Winfrey could become the latest success story with players acquired from the UFL. Josh Butler and All-Pros KaVontae Turpin and Brandon Aubrey each earned a roster spot in Dallas after starting their careers in the spring league. And maybe all he has to do is show more "commitment'' to the run-stuffing cause that many critics think the Cowboys themselves show. Related: Cowboys Can't Waste 'Blow It Up' Plan Under New Coach Related: Cowboys Sign Packers Ex Cornerback as Free Agent This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Sign UFL Star Who Just Couldn't Wait To Get Inside The Star
Cowboys Sign UFL Star Who Just Couldn't Wait To Get Inside The Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FRISCO - Security here at The Star in Frisco is pretty tight. That goes for the lowly media ... and it even goes for relative unknowns with an outside chance to make the Dallas Cowboys' 90-man roster. Advertisement So, to get in? You need permission. Or an invitation. Or a door key. Perrion Winfrey finally got all three. The Cowboys are hoping to continue their luck in signing players out of the UFL as our sources confirmed this week that the team is signing defensive tackle Winfrey after an All-UFL season with the Birmingham Stallions this spring. After a standout college career at Oklahoma, Winfrey was taken by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was waived after one year with the Browns before being picked up by the New York Jets the following season. He spent much of his one-year contract in 2023 on the injured reserve or practice squad before becoming a free agent and testing out his skills in the UFL. Advertisement Part of the issue for the 6-3, 290-pounder, who given his OU background probably knows his way around Dallas? A handful of behavioral issues, including a an accusation that he pulled a gun on a woman in Cleveland, leading to his Browns release. He comes to Dallas with some ties, as during his time on the Jets' practice squad, he worked with Cowboys new defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton and fellow defensive tackle Solomon Thomas, who signed with the Cowboys earlier this offseason. Can he turn things around here? He's trying ... by showing up early to work out here at The Star. The Cowboys struggled stopping the run last season, and signing Winfrey continues the team's efforts to enhance the interior defensive line. Dallas drafted two tackles in Jay Toia and Tommy Akingbesote, along with signing Thomas and re-signing emerging star Osa Odighizuwa. Advertisement Winfrey will head to training camp with a shot at earning his place on the Cowboys 53-man roster and adding depth to the trenches. His connections to the staff should bode well for his causes, but he still must prove that he deserves the chance to play in the NFL. Winfrey posted on social media his arrival at The Star, noting, "Soon as I got the code I was innit lol.' So, he's ready to show up for work as he just couldn't wait to get inside The Star. For the Cowboys, an upside is that he might join KaVontae Turpin and Brandon Aubrey as UFL stars who become NFL standouts here. And another upside? He's got his entrance code. Advertisement Related: Latest Trade Proposal from Media Sends Micah Parsons To NFC Rival Related: Should Cowboys' Dak Prescott Be A Running QB In 2025? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cowboys Solomon Thomas Announces Exciting Personal News
Cowboys Solomon Thomas Announces Exciting Personal News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It continues to be a monumental offseason for veteran defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. The former No. 3 overall pick in 2017 signed with the Dallas Cowboys in free agency this offseason on a two-year, $8 million contract. He returns to his hometown, having been a graduate of nearby Coppell High School. Advertisement He also stays united with D-line coach Aaron Whitecotton, who was with him on the New York Jets in recent seasons. Last week, Thomas was able to check off a bucket list item by making his Broadway debut, taking part in the MJ production that tells the story of Michael Jackson. He had been a regular supporter of the arts during his time in the Big Apple, reportedly attending six shows during his stint with the Jets. He'd become such a fan, he was given a cameo spot on stage. "I cannot think of a better way to celebrate my time in New York than by making my Broadway debut! I am so grateful to MJ for making this dream come true and for the support over the past few years," Thomas said, via Playbill. Advertisement Thomas' latest milestone, however, may be his most special. He proposed to his girlfriend, Kaylie, at a romantic dinner with a picturesque view of the mountains. Thomas is spending the beginning of his pre-training camp break with a romantic getaway, but he's also stayed around the game a bit. Earlier in June, he returned to Coppell to host his annual kids camp, in which multiple Cowboys teammates helped him coach. Thomas is entering his ninth season in the NFL after starting his career with the San Francisco 49ers and also seeing with the Las Vegas Raiders before New York. Last season, the 3-tech tackle got 3.5 sacks, 26 tackles and a forced fumble. Advertisement Although he hasn't lived up to his draft pedigree long term, the 29 year old is hoping this offseason filled with life-changing milestones can lead to more production on the field for the Cowboys. Related: Donovan Ezeiruaku Offseason Could Be Big Development For Cowboys' Defense Related: Ex Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer Scores Unexpected Prize This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Free Agent Tryouts Include Starting Lineman And Playmaking Cornerback
Cowboys Free Agent Tryouts Include Starting Lineman And Playmaking Cornerback originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There is no reason to think this is indictment of young Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton or anybody else who just finished up minicamp as a member of the O-line room. Advertisement But Dallas is giving a tryout to a veteran blocker ... and he's a known commodity. Among the group of players working out with the Cowboys this week is offensive tackle George Fant, who turns 33 this summer. The 6-5, 320-pound Fant - who has started 75 games throughout his decade-long career - has a familiarity with this coaching staff ... Making that the driving force for the workout. Fant played for the New York Jets for three seasons with 2020-2022 and was a team captain there. Present Dallas D-line coach Aaron Whitecotton was on that staff, so there's a semi-connection. A greater one? Fant was undrafted when he came into the NFL in 2016, a converted basketball player who was initially a prospect at tight end ... but who successfully made the switch to O-line with his new employers ... Advertisement The Seattle Seahawks. And by 2018, the offensive coordinator of the Seahawks was ... Brian Schottenheimer, now Dallas' first-year head coach. The plan remains for Terence Steele to be at right tackle and for 2024 first-rounder Guyton to be the left tackle ... and Dak Prescott has endorsed the progress of the latter. 'Guyton's made a huge step, and it's in the mentals,' Prescott said. 'It's in his approach, it's in his preparation, it's in the way that he's taking care of his body working out and practicing so not going to be surprised with the jump that he makes this year because I've watched every step in the process that he's put into this and excited for him.' Advertisement That's more like it. With Guyton and Tyler Booker, Dallas' last two first-round picks, to go with young All-Pro Tyler Smith, second-year center Cooper Beebe, and a rejuvenated Steele, Dak's front five appears, on paper, to be in good shape. But checking in on. vet can make sense ... especially if the coaching staff already has a feel for him. Meanwhile, also getting Dallas tryouts are: Perrion Winfrey, 24, an All-UFL defensive tackle (who played under Whitecotton with the Jets); defensive tackle DeVere Levelston, 24, a native of DeSoto, Texas, who started his career as an undrafted free agent with the Seahawks; Robert Rochell, 27, a cornerback who is a former fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams and who played last year with the Kansas City Chiefs; and Jerry Jacobs, 27, who was for a short time a Detroit Lions starter who in 2023 grabbed two interceptions in one game against Green Bay. Advertisement Related: 'Legacy Be Damned' as Cowboys' Dak Focuses On Super Bowl 'Sanity' Related: Cowboys' Jake Ferguson Opens Up On 'Weird' Struggles This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
